David Turnbull has found consistent minutes hard to come by this season. The Scotland internationalist started in Saturday’s loss to Hearts but was withdrawn at the break.
Despite starting just nine games in the league this campaign, Turnbull has scored seven goals in Scotland’s top flight. He remains a talented player, but former Parkhead gaffer Martin O’Neill thinks his form is inconsistent.
O’Neill praised how Turnbull can control a game, but how he can be dominated himself. He said (PLZ Soccer): “Turnbull, sometimes you feel he can turn up in a game and really dominate it. And other times, he doesn’t function as strongly as you think he should do in games.”
The 24-year-old seems to be a player whose abilities divide much of the Celtic support. He offers lots in terms of long-range shooting and passing, but Turnbull is admittedly slow and doesn’t have the dynamism to keep up with the intensity of games, particularly in Europe.
This is why Paulo Bernardo was preferred to the former Motherwell man in the Champions League. Turnbull usually plays domestic games, but his long-term future in Glasgow remains uncertain.
His contract is due to expire at the end of the current season and the week after next, the number fourteen is eligible to sign a pre-contract with other clubs.
If he manages to gain consistency, Turnbull could be rewarded with a new deal. Brendan Rodgers, however, has previously hinted at trimming the Celtic squad and one feels that if the Irishman wanted to keep the midfielder long-term, he would have signed on by now.
